Big Big Day

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This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. The anticipation is always so much fun to watch. The kids talk about the BREAK and the CAPTAINS forever. It’s like CNBC and FOX networks all summer long up here-but its all RH news all the time. I must admit the FAKE break was amazing- kids went nuts. After a few victory laps- I started to feel sick. Only I would think that the fake was too good. How could the real Break live up to it- I thought.. These breaks are like my children- I grow very connected to and defensive of all their failures and live through all successes. That being said- the break was OK- without the fake it would have been top 5 for us- year 11 here. Must admit I am really going to hit it out of the ball park next year.

RH got into day 2 with fury. Walking around today was a pleasure- your kids played so hard. Every field was on fire with competition and energy. We spentthe morning at the beach- the chants and cheers went on for 3 hours. I know that our pictures tell 1000 stories. I want to share 2 stories that pictures can’t capture.

My oldest girls called a meeting to make sure that a bunkmate who had hurt herself could participate. They were willing to change the way we did an activity in order to ensure everyone got to play. Both teams came together as one- Green and White stays out of the bunk. With these girls it means more than anything- their friendship is more important than any War. They will always be sisters….

During the swim meet I noticed one of my GL’s jump in the water before the final group race. This Gl swam beside the camper during the entire event smiling and cheering the whole time. Best part for me was the GL was on the other team. Regardless of the War -that was and always will be her camper. They were alone in the water for 30 seconds with 450 people yelling and screaming. It was their time-something both will remember forever.

Years from now everyone will either be talking about the final score or the break. For me these are the memorable moments.

I am so proud of these kids… I am so proud of our staff… This place ROCKS!

Woody

In The Jungle

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Sometimes it all just works…

Today was another special day in The Realm- Final Four Day. Four teams – the Tigers, the Parrots, the Zebras and the Goldfish – spent the day battling for supremacy in a day filled with spirited competition from breakfast to dinner.

The Saxons and Scribes arranged the Dining Hall so that each team could sit together starting at breakfast. All four teams came to the Flag Pole dressed in their team colors. The energy was amazing and I loved how the new campers seemed to relish the moment. The Saxon and Scribe captains led their teams at pump ups and at team meetings, teaching them cheers and rallying their squads. In a way, the day provided a little glimpse of what Color War is all about.

The teams played hard all day and enjoyed everything from 4 Way Tug O War to relays at the waterfront to Soccer to 4-Square. We ended the day in the Barn as junior campers presented the murals they created and senior girls competed in a dance-off. The grand finale was a dance performed by the Saxons and Scribes, where they danced as separate teams and then all united together as a group at the end. When the scores were tallied,the Parrots took the day.

It was truly a rush walking around camp and seeing campers and staff alike completely engaged in the activities at hand. And that’s the beauty of camp. We bring a unique energy to everything that we do. It was even more special to watch our oldest campers, the Saxons and Scribes, emerge as true leaders after we have seen them grow up here in The Realm. I marvel at what energetic and responsible people these young adults have become and know that Robin Hood’s future is strong as we look forward to having these individuals on staff.

DC and I are so lucky to be here every day. It is amazing to watch both our campers and camp program evolve each year.

Woody

Robin Hood Gives Back

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Three years ago, we brainstormed during the winter about ways to enable camp to have a broader, more meaningful impact on our campers. We know that camp is fun and that the kids love being here, but we also want campers to appreciate the boundless opportunities and advantages in life that they have.

In 2012, Woody discovered The Pihcintu Multicultural Chorus, which is comprised of young women refugees from all over the world. Through music, these young women have adapted to new cultures and reclaimed their lives. We invited a group of girls to spend the day at Robin Hood, and the experience proved to be extremely memorable for both Chorus members and campers. The girls enjoyed lunch, spent some quality time with campers in girls’ camp, played gaga, did arts and crafts, swam, and enjoyed a cookout on the beach. After dinner, they performed for us, which was very special.

Last year, we partnered with Dare2Tri Paratriathlon Club, a group that serves youths, adults and injured service members. Its mission is to provide athletic opportunities for disabled individuals and to inspire the community at large. Six amazing Dare2Tri members spent a few days at camp with us, running, biking and doing the island swim with us. Our guests made deep impressions on our campers, demonstrating how to face challenges with positive attitudes and determination.

We are excited to share with you our plans for this summer. Today, Paul Frase will be visiting camp to help inspire campers. Paul grew up just 45 minutes away in Concord and played football at Syracuse. He went on to a hugely successful career in the NFL, having played for the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and the Super Bowl Green Bay Packers. More importantly, Paul founded the Joshua Frase Foundation in honor of – and now in memory of – his son, Joshua, who died four years ago at the age of 15 following a life-long battle with the congenital disease myotubular myopathy (MTM). In addition to raising funds to help find a cure for MTM, the Foundation supports the families whose lives are affected by this terrible disease. Paul will speak with the campers, and then over the course of the day, each group will participate in a walk in memory of these special children. If you would like to learn more about the Joshua Frase Foundation, or if you would like to honor your child by making an online donation in his/her name in support of the walk on Giving Back Day, please visit www.joshuafrase.org.

We feel strongly that it is crucial for our children to not only appreciate the advantages that they have but also to develop empathy for others and to understand the importance of giving back. What better place to be inspired than right here amidst the magic in the trees.

Welcome Home

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As I drove into The Realm today, the sun was cutting just perfectly through the trees. I quieted my radio so I could sing the Robin Hood alma mater, and could hear the sound of children playing as I made my way down the dirt road. I was home.

Soon after I arrived, buses began to appear at the gas pumps. Groups holding signs to denote their spot sprinkled the air, and campers navigated their way through the sea of green and white Robin Hood shirts to greet their summer families.

In no time, groups made their way down to the waterfront for a general swim, others were on the homerun diamond trying to “hit the trees” (a RH rite of passage), and a pack of girls – ranging in age from Scribes to Tumblers – were playing pony on the quad.

Dick formally welcomed everyone at dinner with two cherished traditions: the oldest and youngest campers of both the girls and boys camps tore down sheets of paper illustrating the number of hours it has been since we were all last together; and, he toasted “to our returning campers, welcome home! To our new campers, welcome to the greatest place on earth.”

After spending 11 summers at Robin Hood as one of the directors, I am now considered a Robin Hood veteran. When I dated DC in the 90’s and came to camp as a visitor for Family Camp (formerly called “9th Week”), who would have ever thought that I would sit here now as an authentic Robin Hooder? This past January I retired as a director, but as any alum will attest, you may come for a summer, but undeniably stay for a lifetime.

Now I have the privilege of spending a few weekends of the summer in this magical place. Today, I hugged the returning children (many of whom are now taller than me), and I welcomed our new campers to Robin Hood. Tomorrow I play, swim and probably lead an afternoon abs class 🙂

New parents – I imagine you may be missing your children and wondering if they are okay? Did you do the right thing by sending them to camp? It was a significant choice you made in sending your child to Robin Hood. Let me assure you, you didn’t just choose any camp; you chose a place that sees children return year after year. Our children come from as close as Maine and as far as Switzerland. They grow up with each other; they are one another’s life forces throughout the year. Yes, the air smells like pine, the sunsets take away your breath, but the friendships formed are like none other. And it is those relationships that are the secret sauce of this place we call “The Realm.”

With that said, sleep well as we wish you all …

Sweet dreams from The Realm.

Rolling into Summer 2014!

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As opening day quickly approaches we wanted to fill you in on what has been going on in the Realm!

All of our staff have officially arrived and we are so impressed with their work ethic and dedication to Robin Hood. Returning Robin Hood staff have been teaching our new staff the history and philosophy of the Robin Hood way and getting them ready to experience the Realm in full swing.

For the past week staff have been working endlessly to get camp ready for the kids to arrive. The fields have all been lined, the baseball field has been raked, and the volleyball courts improved. Today was spent down at the waterfront. All the docks have been put in the water, another ski dock was added so our campers can ski all day long, and the staff swam their 16 laps!

Last week, camp got together to celebrate Chuck Illig’s 70^th birthday and 49^th summer at Robin Hood. Chuck is the epitome of camp, we couldn’t ask for a better leader. He continues to inspire our staff including both David and I who are proud to say that we worked for him in the 1980’s and now work beside him. He walks around camp with the same enthusiasm as he did then and we are so grateful for everything he does for Robin Hood. Dick Roberts will be joining us for his 32^nd year at the Realm. Dick is the head of Boys Camp and spends the summer supporting and encouraging campers and staff alike.

We also wanted to reintroduce some of our newest members of the administration team. Molli Warsh is returning to Robin Hood for her fourth summer. She will oversee our kitchen as well as communicate with parents over the summer as well as in the off-season. Molli has three cousins at camp and her brother worked at camp for many years. Whitney Kreiter is joining us for her first summer at Robin Hood and we are so proud of everything she has done. Whitney recently graduated with a degree in Social Work and has an extensive camp background – she worked at a wonderful camp in the Midwest as an assistant director. Whitney works closely with Jody Podl on programming and all camp activities. Our third addition to the administration team is Katie Solomon. Katie just graduated from Cornell and this will be her third summer at camp. Katie is helping to oversee all group leaders.

We are looking forward to keeping in touch with you over the summer and sharing our fun. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and login to your CampInTouch account daily to read our WoodChuck Newsletter and view the day’s photos. We are so excited and ready for the campers to arrive. As we enter our eleventh summer we couldn’t be more proud of our facility, record number of campers, and the amazing staff that keep Robin Hood running.

See you all soon,

DC and Woody